The Shaman did a bit more observing first, trying to get some idea of her maturity level. It was always a toss up; occasionally actual children were brought over, or teens, though it was unknown why the Administrators would do such a thing. Though that could be said for many subjects.

Given her immediate efforts to do a focused exercise it was likely she was not a child. This “Aeva” knew it was pointless to be able to crawl or jump or run or climb if she couldn’t keep her head off the ground first. Such foresight is not usual in kids, and even in many adults. So it was in this world at least.

She’d find out more whenever she read Aeva’s surface thoughts so she could communicate. Whatever her mental age, she had heard that frank conversations with outsiders concerning their homes were quite interesting.

Taking a large board from nearby, about three by three feet with a circular grid on it and numerous empty spaces throughout in multiple common magic circle formats that could have wooden pieces snapped into place, Vashnoruk began to draw symbols in the appropriate places and noting down the specific details of a spirit investigation spell.

Ordinarily, this tool would be used in the process of complex spells and spirit communication. It took hours of work out of the process, and even had adjustable legs attachments, and an outcropping meant to secure a podium or comfortable in case of specific needs in areas where drawing circles wasn’t plausible, like a hilly, rocky slope.

Today it would not see such a service, however. Today, her tool was serving as a bluff.

Everyone in town knew that when she busted this out, it was serious business and she wasn’t to be fucked with. It was like a soldier approaching with their spear drawn. You didn’t ask questions.

Packing the kind of candles she’d need for legitimate rituals, herbs, bowls, and the sort, she set out. Knocking on Mir’Kir and T’Kere’s door, she ushered the two out. They knew what this board meant, and were immediately concerned. Vashnoruk felt a bit bad about the deception, but it leant an air of legitimacy to just about any prognosis. Which was good because what she said was going to be a bit far fetched.

The orc waved off their concerns, the two looking at her like they were expecting bad news already. “Do not fear. I have narrowed down options, but require specific rituals to verify. She is not in danger, as I told you. I do need you to leave though.”

The two relaxed a little as she said there was no danger, but tensed again when she said they had to leave. “Vash… Is there really no way we can stay? We will stay away and quiet, but it would just about drive us crazy waiting,” said T’Kere, who looked particularly tired after the last few days of poor sleep, if any.

They received a stern look, one that the shaman had long mastered to make others back down. “There is not. Your tension and fear will draw energy that is not fit for the spell in question. It raises the risks of your child being harmed.” This shut them up, and they stared holes in the floor. “Go to the tavern. Have some drinks. Try to cheer up. I will retrieve you when I’m done. Your ties to your child are strong, and your dread can be doing them no favors,” Vashnoruk ordered.

They shared a look but nodded, continuing on their way. Neither of them had spent much time outside since Aeva was born. It was beginning to generate rumors, several of which were even stranger than the reality. This would do them good. Even if it was… Pretty much entirely deception. This was a skill that even legitimate magic users benefitted from, not just conmen.

Bringing the board inside, she locked the doors and closed the windows in case they got too curious and came back. Even coming from the person who did a lot of child delivery alongside the doctor in this village, they hovered over their child quite a bit. It wasn’t healthy, even if it was a normal child who was in fact ill. It sounded like a recipe for codependency.

Finding where the child had already begun to do some strange organized body wiggles, moving one leg and the opposite arm forward in what must be some sort of movement exercise, the shaman set up the board in the front room. Vashnoruk cleared her throat, startling the small child. She brought the child to the front room, to the board, setting her atop it. A spell had been arranged on it to enable telepathy from Aeva so Vashnoruk didn’t have to read her mind constantly.

Aeva was clearly uncomfortable, looking uneasy. She tried to comfort her, speaking first in her mind, “Relax. Aeva. My name is Vashnoruk, and I am this village’s shaman. I am here to speak with you about your condition, what happened, and your parents. That circle you’re on will temporarily allow you to use this same telepathy skill I am using, as well as translating it to a language you can understand. Just focus on the board and… Mm. Think hard, I guess is a way to put it. We have much to discuss, but I sent Mar’Kir and T’Kere off to drink and socialize anyway.”

Aeva jumped about as much as an infant could and flailed as she was brought to the circle. She could barely see this new lady, but all flailing was brought to a halt as she was spoken to. “Oh my god I could cry right now. I have heard nothing but mumbles for days. No one speaks English here. Who the hell are Mar’Kir and T’Kere? How am I supposed to relax? And how the hell do you know my name?!” she thought back, practically at shouting volume. It seemed she had no problems with figuring out this telepathy thing with the help of the circle.

The volume made Vashnoruk jump a little, but she knew the poor girl wasn’t really to blame. Her own isolated desperation aside, she had no idea how to use it effectively, “First, quiet down please. Secondly… I can imagine this whole thing must be terrifying for you. In my home fleet, we also had and Outsider, which is our name for your kind here. Mar’Kir and T’Kere are your father and mother. I can see why relaxing would be difficult, but tension will do you no favors. As for your name, I have the Invasive sub-skill for my Appraise. I don’t mean to invade your privacy, but I’m sure you can understand that I needed to investigate before I came to talk to you.”

“Sorry,” Aeva grumbled on instinct, “I didn’t mean to be loud… I’m scared. As for the name thing, I don’t care. Privacy doesn’t exist anymore. I’ve had a woman’s titty shoved into my face many times now. So am I called Varo’K now, or what?”

This just made Vashnoruk chuckle, shaking her head, “It’s okay. I can see why this would make you uneasy. Yes, Varo’K is the name given to you in this world. If you have any questions for me, please, ask. In an organized fashion if possible. As for language, we typically speak Metyt and Common. I’m not familiar with this “english,” but I can only assume it’s a common tongue of your world.”

“Yeah you could call it that…,” Aeva huffed, her tiny cheeks puffing with frustration, “English is one of the most common languages in my… erm… world. I speak that and Spanish, which is another common language. Well I guess for one… why are you talking to me?”

This just got a confused look from the shaman, “I told you, I’m the village shaman. I help handle affairs of the spiritual, philosophical, and magical variety. This is an extension of my work. That aside, I’m friends with Mar’Kir and T’Kere as well. There’s a lot to tell you about, and no one is a better fit for it.”

She scrunched her nose, “I meant more… I don’t have any context. To anything. My world doesn’t really have shamans. We don’t have magic at all. We also don’t have this… status stuff, except in games people play. I have unending questions, but if you want them at all organized, you might want to explain things first and ask me questions first.”

“Ah. Yes. I suppose that is fair. Having somewhere to start helps, especially starting from a world so different,” Vashnoruk said a bit awkwardly, “Apologies. My teaching skills are rusty at best. This is not the most… Curious group of people. So… Hmm. This world is known by most as Yuen. You are what is known to us as an Outsider, someone brought here from another world. It’s nothing extraordinary to be reincarnated in another world from the one of your original birth, and the odds of the self that you know being from wherever you recall is slim. But Outsiders are brought here wholecloth with your memories, and given special abilities. This is all done by individuals known as “administrators,” though to be honest your kind tends to know far more about them than the rest of us. No one else really has contact with them but for exceptional cases. Your kind are a… Chosen people of a sorts. You are given blessings and unique abilities by Outsiders depending upon how much you go through their tasks. Usually by the time you reach adulthood, you will have full memories of your arrangements with the Administrators. In the cases I know of, they usually offer a strong starting set of powers and rapid growth into adulthood, at least for your species. You will be glad to know that your stats grow at an even more extraordinary rate. I’m sure you’ve seen your stats already? It’s usually discovered rather quickly. Until you hit the greyed out value, they’ll grow swiftly, and then return to a normal rate. Hmm… For later investigation, you can use your Appraise skill. Yours is the Advanced Appraise variant, at level two. You’ll get some information, though I doubt it will sate your curiosity. Please, do feel free to go over what you have and ask me whatever questions come to mind.”